Chapter 182 - Misgivings (12)

But that anger evaporated as soon as it surfaced, and Cecil regained her composure.

"I'm not mistaken. I remember that chubby sparrow clearly. A spirit can't have two masters."

"I don't know what you're talking about, but Ppiyak doesn't listen to me well. It wanders all over Eternia, so even I have trouble finding it. There are many people who unknowingly take care of it for me. You must have mistaken its owner."

"I'm not fooled."

"..."

"When you went on your dispatch mission to the Principality, someone I knew disappeared in the same way. Even taking all the items needed for combat. As if preparing for something very important."

"..."

"And you came back having saved the Duchess' life in Barbisia."

"Were you always this interested in me?"

"The fighting style is the same too. There's only one man who does that crazy thing of throwing swords around."

"..."

I avoided Cecil's intense gaze.

Cecil began her interrogation in earnest.

"You know Candy, right?"

My heart sank.

"Why are you asking about that?"

"I'm just trying to confirm. There's no harm in being thorough."

"I don't understand."

Cecil took a step towards me. I slightly furrowed my brow and stepped back.

She pulled something out from behind her waist.

It was a dagger.

She took another step towards me and drew the blade from its sheath.

Cecil's face looked as if she was possessed by something.

"If you really are that person... I don't think I can forgive you."

"...What?"

"I'll really kill you. I'll kill you and bury you in the ground. Not only did you hide your identity and mess with various women, but you also messed with Trisha. And me, you just used me as much as you could."

Cecil's eyes were slightly watery, as if overcome with emotion.

It was an incomprehensible, intense reaction. While some feeling of betrayal would be understandable if I revealed my identity, being this angry... 

Isn't it going too far?

It was even more bewildering because she had never shown this side before. 

What's gone so wrong? It seems she has a seriously twisted impression of me.

Cecil grabbed my collar.

"There's no need to drag this out. I know a sure way."

"What are you doing?"

"You have a scar on your belly, right? If I just check that..."

Cecil intended to tear my clothes with the dagger. If she discovered a scar identical to Candy's, there would be no way to turn back.

I grabbed both her arms to stop her.

"Let go!"

She resisted with all her might, but she couldn't overpower me. We continued this struggle for a while.

"You seem to have seriously misunderstood something, but I'm not the person you think I am."

"Then take off your clothes. If you do that, or just admit it without argument, I'll leave."

"You're not in your right mind."

"No! I'm more rational than anyone."

If Cecil really checked for the scar like this, it would be over.

As I saw no clear way out, a voice like a savior rang out from somewhere, "Sis!!!"

When has Trisha's voice ever been so welcome?

Trisha was running towards us, waving her hand from afar.

"Sis! What are you doing here?!"

Trisha was drenched in sweat as if she had run non-stop the entire way. Panting, she wedged herself between us and shouted.

"Sis! What's wrong!? Why are you trying to kill my friend!"

"Trisha, not now. I have to confirm something."

"Damian isn't a bad person! And Sis, your friend Candy is coming here too!"

"...What?"

Hearing this, Cecil's resistance stopped abruptly.

"Yes! That Candy friend is coming towards the Guardian Tree too!"

Cecil's eyes wavered.

"What do you mean? Candy is coming?"

I was equally bewildered. 

What on earth is Trisha trying to accomplish by saying this?

And not long after, there was a rustling sound from the forest.

Someone was walking towards the Guardian Tree.

The person who emerged from the shadows was indeed... me.

Red-brown hair, a wooden mask, and even a wooden sword—it was unmistakably Candy.

Having not expected this at all, my mind went blank for a moment.

And Cecil also seemed unable to process the situation.

The Candy who looked exactly like me spoke nonchalantly, "Cecil? What are you doing there?"

The voice matched perfectly with when I wore the mask. Anyone would agree it was Candy.

Our struggle ended right there.

Cecil looked back and forth between me and Candy with a confused expression, then put her dagger back in its sheath.

"Did I... m-misunderstand?"

Trisha quickly tried to smooth things over.

"That's right, Sister! How could Damian disguise himself when I've been watching him!"

"It seemed... so certain... It really..." Cecil muttered to herself as if something still didn't add up.

Candy, standing at a distance, said, "I have something to discuss with Cecil privately. If you don't mind, may I take her with me?"

Trisha nodded.

"Yes! Sis, you should go!"

Cecil walked towards Candy with a dazed expression. We couldn't say a word until the two of them disappeared from sight.

After a few minutes, when it felt safe, Trisha spoke first, "I don't think I can do this charade twice!"

I felt the same way.

"Did I see an illusion? How did this happen?"

"Sis was being so unreasonable, so I asked one of the professors for help. I did well, right?"

I had to give credit where credit was due. Trisha handled it surprisingly well.

She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.

"...Yes, you did well."

This might be the first time Trisha has provided such crucial help to me.

"You owe me one!"

"By the way, why does Cecil think I'm some bad guy who messes with various women?"

Trisha hesitated for a moment and avoided my gaze.

"That's... maybe because your usual behavior is bad, so such rumors spread? It's true that you mess with various women!"

"Or someone intentionally spread malicious rumors."

"That... could be possible too! But who cares? The important thing is that Sis won't approach you, Damian, anymore!"

"..."

If it had been my usual image, it might not have been bad to just reveal my identity to Cecil. I didn't understand why it was becoming so complicated.

The most suspicious one was Trisha... but for now, there was only circumstantial evidence, so I would have to investigate later.

I needed to clear up the misunderstandings about me to lessen Cecil's hurt feelings when I revealed my identity. Something felt a bit off.

If I suddenly revealed my identity in this situation, my relationship with Cecil would probably be ruined forever.

Trisha looked in the direction Cecil had gone and changed the subject.

"But... I didn't know the professor could create another Candy and send it!"

"I couldn't have imagined such a thing was possible either."

***

I moved back to the arena to watch Luna's sparring evaluation with Art Club senior Fabella.

The spectator seats were as full as they had been for Sion's evaluation match.

Luna, being the top seat of the Magic Department and a rare spirit summoner with exceptional skills, naturally drew a lot of expectations.

Not only first-years but also upper-class students had all gathered to see Luna's performance.

"They say her family received the Spirit King's blessing."

"How can she be defeated when there's no way to harm spirits?"

"If Luna wins, should I try talking to her?"

"Haven't you heard about the Drama Club? Just watch."

Fabella was known to have average magical skills, so despite being a senior, few expected her to win.

Even the Art Club seniors had similar thoughts.

The Art Club Vice-President Zenia, sitting next to me, explained, "The girl from the Reilis family was famous even before coming to Eternia. Why, interested? Even if our first-year is popular, he can't touch her."

I pretended not to know and asked back, "Why not?"

"She doesn't deal with men at all. Come to think of it, it seems only weird people join the Drama Club. Don't you think? I'm really glad our first-year wasn't corrupted by the Drama Club."

"..."

Zenia never let things slide when it came to matters involving their arch-rivals, the Drama and Dance Club.

"Ah, but Fabella is similar in not dealing with men. Should we say birds of a feather flock together?"

"...Who do you think will win, Senior?"

"Fabella will probably lose, right? Honestly, I think it'll come down to how long she can withstand a spirit summoner's offensive."

Luna overwhelmed even her senior in skill. That was good then. Having watched Luna lying half-dead in a hospital bed, I didn't want to see her get hurt again.

"Um... my ribs are aching. Can I step out for a moment?"

"Suddenly?"

"Yes, I think I got hit during the match earlier, and it's starting to react now."

Zenia narrowed her eyes disapprovingly and said, "No, take off your top. I'll check it for you."

Suddenly, a handkerchief flew and hit the back of Zenia's head.

It was Club President Haley, sitting behind us.

She shouted at Zenia, "Stop that nonsense and just let him go!"